Monday, June 6, 2022

From the Desk of Jim R, Take 2, Column 321, On the Aisle: "The 2022 Connecticut Critic's Circle Nominations



‘Falsettoland,’ ‘The Chinese Lady,’ and ‘Lost in Yonkers’ Top Connecticut Critics Circle Nominations

By James V. Ruocco
(press release announcement written by members of the CCC) 


Music Theatre of Connecticut’s production of “Falsettoland” and Long Wharf Theatre’s “The Chinese Lady” and Hartford Stage’s “Lost in Yonkers” lead the shows nominated for the 30th annual Connecticut Critics Circle Awards.

The awards event, which celebrates the best in professional theater in the state, will be held Monday, June 27 at 7:30 p.m. at the Long Wharf Theatre (222 Sargent Drive) in New Haven. 
Kenneth Gartman,  a New York City based singer, music director, and producer, will preside over the show which is free and open to the public.

“Falsettoland” earned six nominations, including outstanding actor in a musical, best director, and best musical.  “The Chinese Lady” and “Lost in Yonkers” each received eight nods, including best actress, best director and best play.

Other outstanding play nominees are Westport Country Playhouse’s “Doubt,” Theaterworks Hartford’s “Walden,” and Playhouse on Park’s production of “The Agitators.”

Also earning outstanding musical nods are Playhouse on Park’s “Five Guys Named Moe,” Westport Country Playhouse’s “Next to Normal,” and A Contemporary Theatre of Connecticut’s production of “Smokey Joe’s Café.”

In addition to the nominees, there will be two special awards presented at the ceremony. This year’s Tom Killen Memorial Award, presented for a lifetime of dedication to the theater and to theater in Connecticut, will be presented to Executive Artistic Director and Co-Founder of Music Theatre of Connecticut (MTC), Kevin Connors. The award is named after Tom Killen, a talented young critic who died at the age of 33 in August 1989 and who helped found the Connecticut Critics Circle. Mr. Connors was also instrumental in leading MTC to become one of only three theaters in the country to have permission from Actors Equity and the CDC to open for live audiences after COVID-19 restrictions began to be lifted.

Artistic Director Rob Ruggiero and Theaterworks Hartford will receive a special award for the company’s tireless efforts and innovative means to bring streamed plays to Connecticut theater-goers during the COVID-19 pandemic. At a time when audiences were not permitted in the theater, TheaterWorks Hartford consistently produced high-quality streaming productions.

 

The 30th Annual Awards Ceremony is free and open to the public.  To RSVP, visit the Connecticut Critics Circle website at http://www.ctcritics.org.

 

The nominees are:


 Outstanding Solo Performance

Cloteal L. Horne - Fires in the Mirror – Long Wharf

Matt Densky - Fully Committed – Music Theatre of CT

Alaudin Ullah – Dishwasher Dreams – Hartford Stage

 

Outstanding Debut


Ari Sklar – Falsettoland – Music Theatre of CT

Avanthika Srinivasan - Queen – Long Wharf

 

Outstanding Ensemble

Five Guys Named Moe – Playhouse on Park

Smokey Joe’s Cafe - ACT of CT

The Porch on Windy Hill – Ivoryton Playhouse

It’s a Wonderful Life – Hartford Stage

A Grand Night for Singing – Goodspeed Opera House

 

Outstanding Projections

RJ Romeo - The Mountaintop – Music Theatre of CT

Camilla Tassi - Fires in the Mirror – Long Wharf

Mark Holthusen - Dream House – Long Wharf

 

Outstanding Sound

Hao Bai - Walden – Theaterworks Hartford

Fabian Obispo - The Chinese Lady – Long Wharf

Jay Hilton - A Grand Night for Singing – Goodspeed Opera House

Noel Nichols and Uptown Works - Today is My Birthday – Yale Rep

Outstanding Costume Design

Kara Harmon - Angry, Raucous & Shamelessly Gorgeous – Hartford Stage

Linda Cho - The Chinese Lady – Long Wharf

An-Lin Dauber - Lost in Yonkers – Hartford Stage

Harry Nadal – Zoey’s Perfect Wedding – Theaterworks Hartford

Haydee Zelideth - Dream House – Long Wharf

 

Outstanding Lighting

Jeanette Oi-Suk Yew – Walden - Theaterworks Hartford

Jiyoun Chang - The Chinese Lady – Long Wharf

Porsche McGovern - Fires in the Mirror – Long Wharf

Christopher Chamber - Nickel Mines – ACT of CT

Cory Pattak - Next to Normal – Westport Country Playhouse

 

Outstanding Set Design

You-Shin Chen – Walden - Theaterworks Hartford

Collette Pollard - Angry, Raucous & Shamelessly Gorgeous – Hartford Stage

Junghyun Georgia Lee - The Chinese Lady – Long Wharf

Stephanie Osin Cohen - Dream House – Long Wharf

Daniel Nischan - Native Gardens – Ivoryton Playhouse


 

Outstanding Choreography

Stephanie Pope Lofgren – Smokey Joe’s Cafe - ACT of CT

Brittney Griffin – Five Guys Named Moe – Playhouse on Park

Andrew Palermo - Nickel Mines – ACT of CT

Amy Hall Garner - Choir Boy – Yale Rep

Lainie Sakakura - Cabaret – Goodspeed Opera House

  

 

Outstanding Actor – Musical

Dan Sklar – Falsettoland – Music Theatre of CT

David Lutken – The Porch on Windy Hill – Ivoryton Playhouse

Spiff Wiegand - Buddy Holly - Music Theatre of CT

Avionce Hoyles – Jesus Christ Superstar – ACT of CT

Austin Turner – Rent – ACT of CT

 


Outstanding Actress – Musical

Lisa Helmi Johanson -The Porch on Windy Hill – Ivoryton Playhouse

Susan Haefner – Tenderly – Music Theatre of CT

Dar. Lee. See. Ah. – Next to Normal - Westport Country Playhouse

Ayla Stackhouse - Star of Freedom – Ivoryton Playhouse

Aline Mayagoitia - Cabaret – Goodspeed Opera House

 

Outstanding Actor – Play

Eric Bryant – Doubt – Westport

Tom Holcomb - This Bitter Earth – Theaterworks Hartford

Damian Thompson - This Bitter Earth - Theaterworks Hartford

Chaz Rose – The Mountaintop – Music Theatre of CT

Gabriel Lawrence – The Agitators – Playhouse on Park

 

Outstanding Actress – Play

Shannon Tyo - The Chinese Lady – Long Wharf

Betsy Aidem – Doubt – Westport Country Playhouse

Andrea Syglowski – Lost in Yonkers – Hartford Stage

Stephanie Janssen – Queen – Long Wharf

Darilyn Castillo - Dream House - Long Wharf


Outstanding Featured Actor – Musical

Jeff Gurner – Falsettoland – Music Theatre of CT

Daniel J. Maldonado – Next to Normal - Westport Country Playhouse

Richard E. Waits - Star of Freedom – Ivoryton Playhouse

Bruce Landry - Cabaret – Goodspeed Opera House

Gordia Hayes – Rent – ACT of CT

 

Outstanding Featured Actress – Musical

Jessie Janet Richards – Falsettoland – Music Theatre of CT

Jennifer Smith – Cabaret – Goodspeed Opera House

Paloma D’Auria – Rent – ACT of CT

 

Outstanding Featured Actress – Play

Sharina Martin – Doubt – Westport Country Playhouse

Antoinette LaVecchia - Ah, Wilderness – Hartford Stage

Marsha Mason – Lost in Yonkers – Hartford Stage

Liba Vaynberg – Lost in Yonkers – Hartford Stage

Marianna McClellan - Dream House – Long Wharf

Outstanding Featured Actor – Play

Jon Norman Schneider – Chinese Lady – Long Wharf

Francis Jue – Today is My Birthday – Yale Rep

Jeff Skowron – Lost in Yonkers – Hartford Stage

Michael Nathanson – Lost in Yonkers – Hartford Stage

Allen Gilmore - Choir Boy – Yale Rep

 

Outstanding Director – Musical

Brittney Griffin – Five Guys – Playhouse on Park

Kevin Connors – Falsettoland – Music Theatre of CT

Marcos Santana - Next to Normal - Westport Country Playhouse

Sherry Lutken – The Porch on Windy Hill - Ivoryton Playhouse

 

Outstanding Director – Play

Ralph B. Pena - The Chinese Lady – Long Wharf

Marsha Mason and Rachel Alderman – Lost in Yonkers – Hartford Stage

Laura Woolery - Dream House – Long Wharf

Mei Ann Teo – Walden - Theaterworks Hartford

Mark Lamos - Straight White Men - Westport Country Playhouse

 

Outstanding Production – Musical

Smokey Joe’s Cafe - ACT of CT

Five Guys Named Moe – Playhouse on Park

Falsettoland – Music Theatre of CT

Next to Normal – Westport Country Playhouse

Outstanding Production - Play

The Chinese Lady – Long Wharf

Doubt - Westport Country Playhouse

Walden – Theaterworks Hartford

Lost in Yonkers – Hartford Stage

The Agitators – Playhouse on Park


 And the winner is....


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